MORE ON THE FEARED COLLAPSE OF PART OF THE TEMPLE MOUNT:

Wakf officials reject Israeli allegations about Mosque's imminent collapse (Palestine Information Center)
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Sep 26, 2004, 14:46

Occupied Jerusalem - Muslim Wakf (religious endowment) officials in Jerusalem have rejected Israeli allegations that an ancient mosque at the Haram al Sharif compound is in danger of collapse.

The officials termed the allegations " baseless" and "mere pretext to take over Islamic holy places."

[...]

First, the location is ancient but the mosque itself was built in 1996. Second, my regard for the accuracty of this article didn't go up when I read the following at its end:

Israel has been carrying out excavation works beneath and in the vicinity of al Aqsa in a desperate efforts to locate the remnants of an Old Jewish Temple in the area.

However, after more than 37 years of digging, archaeologists found no evidence of any ancient Jewish structure.

Obviously, this is just more Jewish-Temple denial. Classes start today and I'm too busy to dig up much on the whole tiresome issue, but note the first-century Greek inscription excavated in Jerusalem in two copies in the nineteenth century by Claremont-Ganneau, which warns gentiles not to stray into the Temple compound beyond the Court of the Gentiles, on pain of death. Josephus mentions the inscription too.

NO FOREIGNER

IS TO GO BEYOND THE BALUSTRADE

AND THE PLAZA OF THE TEMPLE ZONE

WHOEVER IS CAUGHT DOING SO

WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME

FOR HIS DEATH

WHICH WILL FOLLOW

Sort of implies a temple, doesn't it?

On the whole issue of the possible collapse of the Solomon's Stables area, note also the comments of archaeologist Shimon Gibson:

Shimon Gibson, a British archaeologist who is an expert on the more than 45 chambers under the shrine, including Solomon's Stables, said it is unclear if there is a danger.

Describing the area under the shrine as a "Swiss cheese of underground spaces," he said there was a definite need to have a team of professionals survey the damage that may have been caused by the earthquake.

"I'm aware of some dangers that could be in existence due to the ancient age ... of 2,000 years," Gibson said. "At the same time I find that all sides tend to heat things up unnecessarily and they don't deal directly with the problem at hand."